CSUB to Host UND, Play First-Ever Big West Series

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield softball team has returned home to prepare for a big week with a home doubleheader and a historic series on the schedule. The Roadrunners will welcome North Dakota to Bakersfield on Wednesday, Mar. 16, before heading out on the road for CSUB's first-ever Big West Conference series, Mar. 20-21, at UC San Diego.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how we're going to bounce back from the adversity that has hit us," said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Bakersfield's 11th-year Head Coach, referencing the team's six games against tough opponents last week. "I think [playing UND] is a great test right before Conference. I think North Dakota has a very good team; they are scrappy and they are going to figure out a way to get runs on the board. We're just going to fight pitch-to-pitch."

Traveling over 1,400 miles away from their home in Grand Forks, N.D., the Fighting Hawks will visit the Roadrunner Softball Complex on Wednesday for a doubleheader with first pitch set for 12 p.m. (PT). UND (8-16) comes to CSUB (2-12) in the middle of an 11-day visit to California. The Fighting Hawks went 2-2 last week at a tournament in Riverside, Calif. and will play eight games over four days as they work their way north through the weekend.

CSUB has enjoyed an even series with UND with the two sides playing to a 5-5 tie all-time. The `Runners won four of the first five meetings, dating back to 2009, but the Hawks have since won four of the last five. The last meeting between the two teams was just over three years ago when UND earned a pair of wins (8-2 and 7-4) in Bakersfield on Mar. 12, 2019.

After Bakersfield tackles UND, the `Runners will head south to play their first-ever Big West Conference series. UC San Diego (12-12) will host CSUB's historic games as the three-game series is set for Sunday and Monday. The `Runners and Tritons will play a doubleheader on Sunday before closing out the series with a game on Monday.

"We're all excited to head into Conference and to head into a very strong conference within the Big West," Buck-Ziegler said of Bakersfield's weekend opponent. Our team is excited to take on this new adventure and I like our kids' mindset moving forward. We're ready. UC San Diego is going to be a very tough opponent. They have tough pitching…I think they are going to do very well in the Big West this year."

Bakersfield's standout super senior, Cydney Curran, is in her sixth year in the program after the two seasons lost due to COVID-19. Curran was never even originally expected to be on the team when the `Runners joined the Big West Conference, but she said she relishes the opportunity.

"I'm excited to play in the conference," Curran said. "We've always played against teams from the Big West and it's a competitive conference. I'm really excited to be a part of it and work through it with my team and see how we can do in this new conference."

CSUB and UCSD enjoy a rich rivalry that dates all the way back to the 1992 season. When the Tritons joined the NCAA Division II's California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2001, the two teams played each other at least four times a year until 2007, Bakersfield's last season before moving to Division I. In the all-time series CSUB boasts a 25-11 record against UCSD, but the two teams have not played in 15 years.

Fans are invited to come out to the Roadrunner Softball Complex on Wednesday with tickets available at the gate or ahead of time at GoRunners.com/Tickets. All five of CSUB's games this week will be broadcasted live on ESPN+. Links to broadcasts, live stats, tickets and more are all available at GoRunners.com/Live.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#1 Cydney Curran: INF; 5' 4"; Redshirt Senior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#1 Cydney Curran
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Senior; L/R
: INF

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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CSUB to Host UND, Play First-Ever Big West Series

Players Mentioned

#1 Cydney Curran

Players Mentioned

#1 Cydney Curran